Wednesday, December 23, 2015

When we say our 'dear' friends and family, that is the understatement of a lifetime . . . We cannot even begin to recognize and rejoice in the many ways that each one of you have influenced our lives in some way. When we say we miss you and wish our most happiest and most joyful wishes for you in the New Year ahead, it's doesn't even begin to express the heartfelt emotion that we experience as we think of each one of you. You all touch our lives in so many ways. From your kind caring concern, your actual physical service and good deeds, the good thoughts and prayers we feel in our behalf, to the support we have felt throughout our missionary service, to the friendships you extend to our family, especially our children . . . thank you just isn't a big enough word. We feel emotionally connected across the miles to so many . . .

And a special thanks to our many many missionaries, serving and returned . . . what a privilege it has been in our lives to be associated with you, and to serve alongside you as we accomplish our Heavenly Father's work here on the earth. We extend our warmest Christmas wishes to you and your families and want you to know that not a day goes by that we don't think of and miss you all and appreciate the wonderful things you were and are able to accomplish during your missionary service. Thank you.

The Savior of the World . . .

Even though life continues to be a roller coaster of challenges and adventures here in Honduras, life is good and we truly feel our blessings have far outweighed our challenges. Our Heavenly Father continues to bless us greatly, and we feel privileged to have the opportunity to testify daily of the glorious mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ. That He is the Savior of the world, the Son of God, our Redeemer. That He was born in Bethlehem, organized His Church with Priesthood power and authority upon the earth. He is the only way by which we can return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.

Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of the world, for you and for me, for us, giving each of God's children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. And through His resurrection prepared the way for each person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. We testify that it is real, and is for you for me, for us.

It's a privilege to share with the world that some day He will return to the earth again -

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government

shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful,

Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Wherever this Christmas season may find you, we testify that these things are real. That God is our loving Heavenly Father. That He knows us and loves us. That He desires to bless us. That we celebrate the birth of His son at this special season of the year. May you enjoy this special season with your family gathered all around. May you experience the fulness of life's greatest blessings in the year ahead.

Monday, December 7, 2015

(Sorry so long in between posts . . . I broke my camera in September and have finally received a new one! Hurray! So more photos on the way . . . in the meanwhile, enjoy these cell phone photos! Thank goodness for cell phones!!)

The Living Christ . . .As Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is our great privilege to testify daily of the important role of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even though He came to earth, suffered and died for us upon the cross . . . Today He lives!

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

Of Him the Prophet, Joseph Smith, also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

Saturday, October 24, 2015

I've always loved the beautiful line from the hymn by Eliza R. Snow entitled, "Oh my Father", that speaks of eternal parenthood and forever families-

"Truth eternal . . . tells me I've a Mother there . . .

Something I've always felt in my heart is the presence of an eternal Mother in Heaven. A sacred not secret point of doctrine not often mentioned in the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons). Although infrequently mentioned, a no less important thought and principle than the fact that we are all children of a Heavenly Father who loves us.

A tenet of our faith that has always drawn me closely to learning and following gospel principles is that the family unit, a mother, father and children, is at the center of our theology. It simply resonates within me that the family is the purpose of all other gospel doctrine and principles. The earth was created for families, to nurture, strengthen and bless one another. Our Savior, Jesus Christ came to earth, suffered, died and accomplished the Atonement, that we might all have the opportunity to be Eternal Families. A beautiful scripture from the Pearl of Great Price, tell us what our Heavenly Father's purpose is -

“This is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”

I'm linking to and copying the complete essay in it's entirety here because it's a subject I would love to ponder more about.

I've always loved catching the light of Christ in the eye's of women through my photography. I believe that through our womanly and feminine images and roles we are able to catch a glimpse of the Heavenly Mother in whose countenance we were created.
To visit original article click here.(Almost all of these are my personal photos, where they are not, I have given photo credit)

Mother in Heaven

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all human beings, male and female, are beloved spirit children of heavenly parents, a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother. This understanding is rooted in scriptural and prophetic teachings about the nature of God, our relationship to Deity, and the godly potential of men and women.1The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints.2

While there is no record of a formal revelation to Joseph Smith on this doctrine, some early Latter-day Saint women recalled that he personally taught them about a Mother in Heaven.3 The earliest published references to the doctrine appeared shortly after Joseph Smith’s death in 1844, in documents written by his close associates.4The most notable expression of the idea is found in a poem by Eliza R. Snow, entitled “My Father in Heaven” and now known as the hymn “O My Father.” This text declares: “In the heav’ns are parents single? / No, the thought makes reason stare; / Truth is reason—truth eternal / Tells me I’ve a mother there.”5

Subsequent Church leaders have affirmed the existence of a Mother in Heaven. In 1909, the First Presidency taught that “all men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.”6 Susa Young Gates, a prominent leader in the Church, wrote in 1920 that Joseph Smith’s visions and teachings revealed the truth that “the divine Mother, [is] side by side with the divine Father.”7 And in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” issued in 1995, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared, “Each [person] is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.”8

Prophets have taught that our heavenly parents work together for the salvation of the human family. “We are part of a divine plan designed by Heavenly Parents who love us,” taught Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.9 President Harold B. Lee stated, “We forget that we have a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother who are even more concerned, probably, than our earthly father and mother, and that influences from beyond are constantly working to try to help us when we do all we can.”10

Latter-day Saints direct their worship to Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ, and do not pray to Heavenly Mother. In this, they follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ, who taught His disciples to “always pray unto the Father in my name.”11 Latter-day Saints are taught to pray to Heavenly Father, but as President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The fact that we do not pray to our Mother in Heaven in no way belittles or denigrates her.”12 Indeed, as Elder Rudger Clawson wrote, “We honor woman when we acknowledge Godhood in her eternal Prototype.”13

As with many other truths of the gospel, our present knowledge about a Mother in Heaven is limited. Nevertheless, we have been given sufficient knowledge to appreciate the sacredness of this doctrine and to comprehend the divine pattern established for us as children of heavenly parents. Latter-day Saints believe that this pattern is reflected in Paul’s statement that “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”14 Men and women cannot be exalted without each other. Just as we have a Father in Heaven, we have a Mother in Heaven. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “Our theology begins with heavenly parents. Our highest aspiration is to be like them.”15

Resources

See “Becoming Like God”; see also Elaine Anderson Cannon, “Mother in Heaven,” in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. Daniel H. Ludlow, 5 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 2:961. For an extensive survey of these teachings, see David L. Paulsen and Martin Pulido, “‘A Mother There’: A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven,” BYU Studies 50, no. 1 (2011): 70–97.

Zina Diantha Huntington Young recalled that when her mother died in 1839, Joseph Smith consoled her by telling her that in heaven she would see her own mother again and become acquainted with her eternal Mother. (Susa Young Gates, History of the Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints [Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1911], 15–16.)

See W. W. Phelps, “Come to Me,” in “Poetry, for the Times and Seasons,” Times and Seasons 6 (Jan. 15, 1845): 783.

(These are my photos and do not represent the Church, or the Liahona Children's foundation in any way . . . but my own personal photos I've collected along the way here in Honduras)

My Thoughts for Missionary Families and Others . . .

Many many members of the Church have served missions in developing countries of the world. Many families have members now serving in developing counties. Many many families hear about the heartache, the challenges of these members of the Church, and others, through the reports of their missionaries. Many wonder what they could possibly do to help when they are so far away . . . .

Well, I have some information for you -

Malnutrition is a serious problem throughout the developing world. It literally stares us in the face daily in our missionary work here in Honduras. And it pulls at my heart strings daily. Many severely malnourished children suffer lifelong cognitive and physical defects, leading to increased levels of poverty and decreased potential earning power. Which in turn become a vicious cycle in the next generations.

Because of the success of the Church's (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) missionary program in bringing many people into the gospel in developing countries, it is not unusual to find severely malnourished children among the Latter-day Saints in these countries. Honduras certainly being one of the most humble countries that is an example of malnourishment amongst it's very youngest members of the Church.

Someone Should do Something Right?

The Liahona Childrens' Foundation was created about six years ago to address malnutrition among Latter-day Saint children worldwide. It is a federally recognized 501 (c) 3, non-profit organization, independent of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although it is administered by faithful Latter-day Saint members, and is funded by members of the Church in the United States and other countries.

Malnutrition is a hidden condition and not easily detected, but through weights and measures based on Standard Growth charts set by the World Health Organization, the Foundations volunteer screeners can accurately identify children in need of nourishment assistance. Re-screenings later on show that the children receiving the supplements show significant progress in a short amount of time.

Branches, wards and Stakes all over the world are currently in need of supplemental health to provide nourishment to severely malnourished children in their units. The cost of preventing such cognitive and physical problems related to malnutrition is surprisingly reasonable . . . less than $100 a year to provide the supplemental nutrients needed to feed the brain and body during this critical period of growth and development.

The incredible returns . . .
from such a minimal investment are amazing. You can see in the video the hope, and peace and joy that these families experience at the physical assistance for their little ones, but in turn they have the opportunity to become healthy, contributing members of the Church in their areas, branches, wards and stakes, contributing many times over the initial amount needed to provide such nourishment.

I am only suggesting . . .
that if you are searching for means to make a difference in the life of many of the members of the Church throughout the wide wide world . . . you consider taking a look at this organization and see if it is something that you can support.

I can share my own thoughts with you with every bit of energy that I possess, that the situations you see in this video, and the other videos available on their website occur everyday of the week in many homes and families throughout the world, and certainly it is widespread throughout Honduras where we are serving.

The Liahona Children's Foundation is beginning screenings this week in Honduras, to begin to supplement and help children and families, members of the Church and their friends. Their mission is to nourish the potential of children to lead healthy and productive lives.

Friday, July 4, 2014

I haven't had time to share a blog post for close to three months, but couldn't let this opportunity pass by . . . and now . . .

The day is almost gone . . . and hardly a minute has passed today, in all the busy-ness, that our thoughts haven't turned to that land that we love. I imagine even now . . .

at this moment, sparklers are sparkling . . .

fireworks are blazing . . .

crowds are cheering . . .

and anthems are sounding . . .

All over America.

Land . . . that I love.

Something that many don't know about me . . . is that I really cannot get through the first lines of . . .

My Country 'Tis of Thee,

Oh Say can You See,

I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag,

O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,

This is My Country,

This Land is Your Land.

Without a big lump in my throat . . . tears in my eyes, and a love of country in my heart. We were sad today to not have the opportunity to participate in festivities recognizing the birth of this great nation. But we are celebrating in our thoughts all day! And remembering (thus ALL the photos!) all the many special times . . . that mean so much to us . . . and to our family.

We didn't make any new 4th of July memories today . . . unless you count wishing "Happy 4 of July!" to another American couple we happened to meet in a restaurant overlooking the ocean on the coast of Honduras . . . who when they heard us speaking English, stopped by to wish us a "Happy 4th! . . .

Okay . . . So I guess we actually did create new 4th of July memories after all!Before living outside the United States of America for over a year now . . .
I had a list a mile long . . . enumerating all the things that were wrong with America. (Even though I love it dearly, and truly 'Pledge my allegiance" at every opportunity . . .)

And it's true . . . it is far from perfect. And I'm sad to say, that I do believe it is becoming less perfect as each day goes by.

But now, my new list is even longer . . . in fact it's so long . . . I could go on and on and on and on about all the things that are RIGHT with America! Many many many things . . . that truly I have not had an appreciation for in the past.

Someday, when I have more time (like in 2 years . . .) maybe I will try to really enumerate all the great blessings that I took for granted living in this grand country. ALL the things . . . that are RIGHT with America. And I think you would be surprised.

(One of the most inspiring Independence Day celebrations you will ever see - Enjoy!)(Watch this . . . SERIOUSLY, all 28 minutes of it, You'll be so glad you did!)

So while you're enjoying your fireworks . . .

And lighting your sparklers . . .

And singing . . .

"This Land is your land, this land is my land, from California, to the New York Island, from the Redwood Forests, the the Gulf Stream waters . . . this land was made for you and me!"

Remember to . . .

Stand beside her, and guide her . . .

Land that I Love . . .

God Bless America . . .

(One thing I am sure of . . . these young people, surely are the Hope of America!)

Everything that is good, everything that is wonderful, everything that brings joy into my life is

Because of Him

Every talent that I have, every good friend that nurtures, every family member that is my greatest treasure . . . is

Because of Him

Every beautiful scene that I capture, every animal creature that roams the earth, every act of kindness, love and support received is . . .

Because of Him

The answer to every prayer, every moment of peace, each purpose

that fills my day,

Because of Him

Why else would anyone leave the comfort of home and family, a beautiful life filled to the brim with blessings each day, loved family, loved friends and neighbors, a life of comfort, a fulfilling job, giving up a business that was the creation of a lifetime, every modern convenience you can imagine, beautiful grand babies who filled their grand parents days with such wonder . . .

and in exchange,

travel away from home and loved ones and dedicate three years in service, 24 x7 days a week in voluntary service to the Lord and his servants here in a foreign land very different from the one we are accustom to?

Why?

Because of Him.

Because of a lifetime of blessings received.

Because of Him.

I find it remarkable this Easter season the amazing capacity to reach out and touch our friends and neighbors with our testimonies of the Savior, as well as those scattered across the world who are actively seeking the knowledge of the Savior in their lives. We see each day those who are prepared beforehand for our missionaries message, one of peace, joy and the blessings of eternal life.

Many are actively seeking and we are here to share that message. Many find hope and comfort in their trials, answers to their long awaited prayers, through the peace the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings.

I'm including links to the amazing technology that we have seen this year to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ones that have reached out and touched me, and I know many others around the world. There have been several that truly have touched my heart. You'll find them all linked and connected in the post and hope they also uplift and inspire you and bless your life in someway as they have mine.